Voyria rosea Aubl.

  • Authority

    Maas, Paulus J. M. & Ruyters, P. 1986. Voyria and Voyriella (saprophytic Gentianaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 41: 1-93. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Gentianaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Voyria rosea Aubl.

  • Type

    Type. French Guiana.  In sylvis territorii Aroura, A collection by Aublet (holotype, P).

  • Synonyms

    Lita rosea (Aubl.) Willd., Voyria rhodochroa Sandwith

  • Description

    Species Description - Herbs, to 20 cm high. Stems simple, sometimes branched below the inflorescence, pink to orange, upper part minutely hairy, internodes 0.5-2.5 cm long. Roots white, cylindric, to 40 mm long and 5-12 mm thick, irregularly horizontally branched (Maas et al. 4245). Leaves pink to orange, connate in their lower half, ovate to narrowly triangular, 5-8 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, apex acute to obtuse, the margins ciliate. Inflorescence a loose to dense (2-)3-6(-10)-flowered cyme, or flowers solitary. Bracts similar to the upper leaves but somewhat smaller. Bracteoles usually present, closely appressed to the calyx, triangular, 2-3 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide. Pedicels 3-7 mm long. Flowers 5-(or 6-)merous, fragrant (recorded for some collections from French Guiana). Calyx pinkish to red, tubular-campanulate, 6-12 mm long, tube 4-10 mm long, lobes oblong-elliptic, remote, 1.5-2 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide, apex obtuse to slightly emarginate, margins ciliate, sinuses obtuse, calyx scales present. Corolla salverform, pink to red, 45-100 mm long, tube generally slightly inflated below the throat, expanded towards the base by the maturing capsule, 30-70 mm long, lobes narrowly ovate to narrowly obovate, 10-20 mm long, 3-9 mm wide, apex obtuse. Stamens inserted 5-10 mm below the throat, anthers subsessile, 1.5-3 mm long, dorsifixed, thecae tapering towards the base, apex rounded to truncate. Ovary fusiform to cylindric, 8-10 x 2.5 mm, sessile, provided with two glandular marks near the base. Style 20-70 mm long, stigma peltate. Discoid scales absent. Capsule ovoid to fusiform, 8-12 x 2-4 mm, possibly dehiscing along one side (?). Seeds saccate, 0.3 x 0.10.2 mm.

  • Discussion

    In the Guianas Voyria rosea is a rather common species and in the field it is quite conspicuous by its pinkish stems and long corolla (45-100 mm!). A good herbarium character is the shape of the calyx lobes: oblong-elliptic and remote from each other.

  • Distribution

    The Guianas; in forests, at low elevations, up to 600 m; flowering all year.

    Guyana South America| Suriname South America| French Guiana South America|